Milton Jackson ‎– Crash

For his second album, Milton Jackson finds himself on a new label (Freerange; RIP Glasgow Underground) and embracing a new, deeper sound. Oh, sure, the disco hints are still there, but there's a stronger sense of musicianship here now. The little interludes and the tonal pitching that infiltrates "Ghosts in My Machines," for instance, keeps the track from becoming one-note, while the heavier beat and electro tidbits of "Backwards Disco" is appropriately funky. "Another Fine Mess" has a tenderness to it, like it's holding a baby bird in its hands. Even a traditional house track like "Rhythm Track" has some sparkle to it, but I prefer the less-traditional ones, like the slow percolation of "Snap Crackle" or the orchestral builds of "Orbit 3." Even the tech-house of "Prototypes" and "Cycles" have a flair that was missing from his earlier album. A huge step forward that crashes into the future.